Aven Gardening

How To Make Your Own Succulent Soil for your Garden

January 28, 2019 by Helen Allen Leave a Comment

Would you like to make your succulent potting mix? It is the best soil for succulents, and it’s quite easy to make it. Below is a recipe of how to make a perfect succulent potting mix.

So what are the best soils for succulents?

Making the right choice of potting soil for planting succulents is crucial. Based on my experience, most deaths of succulent plants are often caused by overwatering. A potting mix of porous soil that drains well is the best potting soil for succulent plants.

Succulents and cacti can adapt well with getting little water, as they are native plants to dry places with very minimal rainfall. They are, therefore used to receiving little bits of water. Their roots absorb water quite fast and efficiently, while their leaves and stems can store the water for weeks or even months.

You have to make soils used for succulents different from garden soil to prevent them from rotting. The soils must also have the physical ability to support these plants, retain a little moisture, nutrients, as well as perfectly drained excess water.

The ingredients used for succulents in hardy landscape gardens will vary. As an expert, you can mix succulent potting mix of different types due to the following:

Suit plants of different types (for example, Cold-tolerant Alpine, True Desert, or Tree-dwelling Epiphyte).
Tolerate certain weather conditions.
Container Size.
Their possible desire for water.

To get started and come up with your potting mix, follow the following basic procedures:

What are the ingredients needed?

To get the best succulent potting mix, you can either start with a basic soil mix of cactus and succulent, or an African violet mix that is mostly available at most garden centers. Include some additional ingredients to:

Make watering easier.
Improve drainage.
Retain water for a long time without compacting.

An essential ingredient of any succulent potting mix is the organic matter known as Peat Moss, which dries out quickly and is hard to wet. There will be a faster penetration of water when you add ground bark that has been finely ground.

You can also subsitute Peat Moss with Coir for homemade mixes. Coir consists of coconut husks with shredded fibrous. It decomposes very slowly, and when dried out, it is easy to wet. Compost is another option that you can use although it decomposes quickly.

Another significant ingredient that allows water to soak and drain quickly from the soil are inorganic substances which include:

Crushed granite.
Perlite.
Pumice.
Chicken grit.
Calcined clay
Non-soluble cat litter.

All these improve aeration, as well as keep the mix airy and crumbly. Drainage will increase, and as the organic material decomposes, these inorganic materials will not break down.

How to Make the Mix

Begin mixing equal amounts of organic potting soil and fluffy inorganic material. Use little amounts of drainage ingredients for the smaller succulents such as Crassula, Aloe, Sedum, Sansevieria. You can add more massive amounts of the same to Yuccas, Agaves, and True cacti such as Opuntia.

When the mix of your ingredients is ready, pick a handful, wet it thoroughly and squeeze it in your hands. If it happens to compact and stick together, it will not provide good drainage for your plants. Continuously add the inorganic drainage material as you test, until the wet mix crumbles.

Succulents shouldn’t be overwatered at all, as they will quickly die. The succulent soil is, therefore, essential because even if the succulents become overwater by accident, there will always be enough sand to absorb.

In summary, the following ingredients are essential:

1. Potting Soil.

You can use an indoor potting soil that is all-purpose. Avoid solid potting soils with mixes that retain water such as vermiculite.

2. Course Sand (poultry grit and surface can also be used)

Succulents grow perfectly in sandy potting soils that are porous. You can buy sandbox sand at any hardware store around you.

3. Perlite or Pumice.

The soil amendment components are lightweight, and usually, retain a little amount of moisture.

The Exact Measurement of Ingredients Needed.

3 Potting soil parts.
2 Coarse sand parts.
1 Pertile or Pumice part.

Follow these Directions.

Add all your ingredients in a large bucket and mix well using a trowel or hands.
Now plant your succulent plants in own made succulent soil.
You can store any left-over succulent soil in a cool and dark environment.

You can now get started and enjoy your planting exercise!

20 DIY Planter Box Designs for your Garden

January 25, 2019 by Helen Allen Leave a Comment

Just check all of the different creative ways you can make up DIY planter boxes for your garden. These 20 different planters should undoubtedly add style to your garden, patio or yard.

While traditional gardens often look beautiful especially in spring or summer, it can take lots of hard work to get them looking at their best. That is why using planters can be an ideal alternative, particularly if you have a tiny yard or little spare time or money. Planter boxes are a perfect solution for houses that lack the space to have a more traditional style garden, or for those would be gardeners who do not have a lot of the time.

You should hold fire, and not just buy the first planter you see, instead look at these 20 suggestions below for DIY planters.

1. Draw your inspiration from nature

Recycle discarded drawers from old dressers as these make good planters for flowers. All you need to do the transforming are some spindles.

2. Turn a corner

If you no longer need a corner cupboard, then you could turn it into an unusual planter. Place three shelves in it if it did not have any and fill with soil and plants.

3. The DIY Garden Bench

Such benches combined being practical with looking beautiful when there are flowers in it, and everybody is a winner with this planter.

4. The DIY Gutter Hanger Planter

For those of you that lack room for gardening, or prefer to grow herbs that pets cannot reach, the gutter hanger planter is ideal for you.

5. The DIY Cowboy Boot Planter

If you have a worn out pair of old cowboy boots, do not put them in the trash. Instead make two small planters, an excellent size for planting pansies or marigolds.

6. DIY Colorful Cinder Block Planter

Simply reuse any spare cinder blocks, paint them and stack them up. Now you have a new planter without any real effort, and you can put in kind of plant you want into it.

7. The DIY Mini Planter Trellis

Have you been wondering how to support your vines or climbing plants? Just put a trellis in the planter to support them.

8. DIY Modern House Number Planter

There is no better way of having a chic focal point for your front door than this modern house number planter.

9. The DIY stone planter

Tired of cheap looking plastic planters? Do you have old or broken flagstones?

Make stone planters from the spare bits of flagstones.

10. The Hole in one

Use your colander as the basis of a self-draining planter, line it with it with fabric, mark where the holes are and put the planter on a worktop.

11. The Secret Pot

Outwardly you will only be able to observe three terracotta painted in a bright color. However between the pots are two upside pots, and other pots can be stacked on top so that you can change the size of the display.

12. The Lush Locker

Use the drawers of old school lockers to put flowers and plants in, if you want to make it even more colorful you can paint the front of each drawer.

13. Into the Woods

If you have recently replaced your fencing, you can reuse the pickets to make this three-tiered planter. It can also be easily from your porch to your patio.

14. The Raised planter box with drainage and shelf storage

This planter is made from weatherproofed 2 x 4 so that it can withstand wet and cold weather, the planter is at the bottom, while it has a piece of pipe in it to drain away excess water.

15. The Three Tiered planter box for smaller flowers

This raised planter looks the part in the front of your house. That is due to the three tiers looking like steps, and the levels make it easier for excess water to drain away.

16. The planter box for growing vegetables

This planter box is so big that it comes up to the waist of many people. Indeed these planters are so large that just two of them would grow your yearly requirements for fresh vegetables.

Most people make the frame for these planters out of pine while the rest is made from cedar boards. Start by building the structure and then screw the panels into the frame. Then put the legs and put a drain hole in the bottom of it.

17. Simple wooden planter box

This planter is so easy to make. Indeed it is straightforward even for someone who is a complete novice with woodwork. You need to join four vertical parts into four horizontal sections.

18. Triangle pallet planters

Make this planter out of old pallets. It has a triangular base as well as a triangular top. The soil is needed in the base to put plants into it.

This planter looks good providing that you get all the measurements right.

19. The tiered planter boxes

You need to make three baskets for this tiered planter, with all the boxes linked by a chain and hung from above. Measure the chain to make it is the right length to hang all the boxes.

20. The triple DIY planter box

The plan is to build three boxes and link them to each other, and the size can be changed to suit the number of plants or flowers you intend to put in the boxes.

20 Best Low and Fast Growing Shrubs for your Garden

January 23, 2019 by Helen Allen Leave a Comment

A yard without shrubs is, well, not a yard at all! Picking which shrubs to go for isn’t as easy for the occasional hobbyist as it is for someone who lives, breathes, and sleeps plants. So, I’ve compiled a handy-dandy article that will aid you in selecting just the right shrub for your space and personal preference.

What can shrubs do for me?

Shrubs are very diverse in size, shape, and even color. You can use bushes to accent a pool, patio, and dooryard. You can also plant thorny varieties to redirect children and animals from using your yard as a shortcut.

Does weather matter when it comes to shrubs?

In many areas of the United States, rainfall is sparse. If you live in an area that is going through a drought, like California, consider shrubs a great choice! Shrubs come in many varieties, so I would choose a shrub that can thrive on little water. Some examples are olive, butterfly bush, potentilla, and barberry shrubs.

Will deer damage my shrubs?

Deer, while beautiful, do certain damage to shrubs. Deer can chew on a shrub’s twigs, fruits, and foliage. Do not let this discourage you from choosing shrubs. There are many kinds of shrubs that have thorns, and sharp points that will deter the deer from wreaking havoc. Take a look at the 20 shrub breeds below and their qualities/needs to decide which is best for you.

1. Trailing Periwinkle (Vinca Minor)

This plant has beautiful periwinkle blossoms that release a fresh scent. It is an excellent ground cover plant. If this plant is left unattended, it will quickly spread through your garden. It is crucial that you carefully monitor its growth so that it doesn’t spread to unwanted areas of your garden.

2. English Lavender

Tough comes in a pretty package with English lavender. This plant packs Mediterranean herb perfume into its purple blossoms and silvery leaves. It can form a fragrant hedge. However, in smaller gardens, try a small variety like ‘Munstead,’ or ‘Thumbelina Leigh.’

3. Spirea Japonica (Japanese Spirea)

The Japanese spirea is a bushy shrub that has stems that produce clusters of beautiful, delicate, pink flowers in the summer months. This shrub is happy to grow in a sheltered or exposed spot. It is not picky when it comes to soil, and will grow in almost any soil type. There is a variety known as ‘Firelight’ that produces color changes year-round. Color ranges from bronze-red in the summer, to purple in the autumn months.

4. Ribes Sanguineum (Flowering Currant)

If you’re not patient, this is the shrub for you. It is a fast-growing plant for instant impact in the garden. In spring, this plant grows with hot pink tubular or bell-shaped flowers. Colorful berries can even follow the flowers! It can flourish in many types of soil, but it does need plenty of sun exposure. There is a variety called ‘Pulborough Scarlet’ that I love. It has aromatic leaves, deep crimson flowers, and blue-black berries.

5. Butterfly Bush

Prune these plants by late August so that plants have time to harden off before freezes arrive. Once you get these plants going, they’ll take care of themselves! Best of all, they attract butterflies of all shapes and sizes.

6. Fringe Tree

In late spring to early summer, this plant delivers white fringe-like flowers. The flowers are followed by berries that are a favorite among birds. The leaves shift from green to a yellow/gold color with fall. It doesn’t need to be pruned, has no pests, and stands up to pollution. These plants grow from 12 to 20 feet in both length and width.

7. Dragon’s Blood (Red Sedum)

This plant is beautiful and bold. It is a ground-cover plant that loves exposure to the sun. The color of the plant is a deep red, and the color gets stronger as it absorbs sunlight. After several years the plant will stand at eight inches tall. It tolerates dry soil and will spread thickly through your garden.

8. Mahonia x Media (Oregon Grape)

Mahonia is a generally evergreen shrub. Its leaves are a glossy green and are accompanied beautifully in the spring by fragrant yellow flowers. Occasionally, the flowers are followed by clusters of black, or purple berries.

These plants aren’t fussy and will grow in any soil type. The plant will also grow without much sun exposure, in the shade, in full or slight exposure. My favorite variety is known as ‘Charity’ which can grow up to four meters tall with striking cup-shaped flowers in autumn and winter. It adds a lovely splash of color to the often dull colder months.

9. Prunus Laurocerasus (Cherry Laurel)

This plant is a very vigorous grower. Each year, it adds around 60 cm of growth! Which makes it great for a fast-growing shrub for privacy. It has small white spring flowers which turn into cherry-like fruit in autumn.

The main flavor of these shrubs is their beautiful green foliage. They will do well under almost any conditions. If you’re looking for something completely low-maintenance, try the variety ‘Rotundifolia.’

10. Ninebark

This shrub has lived a long time in the garden world, and is a classic for a good reason! If your garden is unfamiliar with this plant, I urge you to give it a shot. It offers four-season interest flowers that turn into berries.

11. Cotoneaster

You may have heard of this plant before by the name ‘Bearberry.’ It’s a ground-cover plant that brings bright white summer flowers followed by bright red berries. These plants do need pruning because they can grow quickly (1-2 ft high and 8-10 ft wide).

12. Purple Pixie

As the name suggests, these plants are as colorful and carefree as a mythical pixie. It has a contemporary weeping form, so put it in a rise pot to showcase the unique style! It can grow to up to 2 feet tall and is pest-free as well as drought tolerant.

13. Hydrangea Macrophylla (Hydrangea)

Hydrangea plants put out showy flowers and add a spark for autumn months to the garden. These shrubs flourish in sheltered spots that are partially in the shade. They tolerate almost any soil type and can grow in sun exposure if the soil is kept moist. There is a unique strain of this plant called ‘Enzaindom’ which had head flowers that change from blue to pink depending on if your soil is acidic or alkaline.

14. Agapanthus

This shrub is also known as ‘Lily of the Nile.’ Its deep, fleshy, green leaves and shocking purple/blue flowers do best in zones 6 to 10. If you’re in those zones, you will have success with this plant.

15. Fountain grass

When designing planting areas, focus on drought-tolerant plants that won’t guzzle water to look their best. Burgundy tinted purple fountain grass (Pennisetum Setaceum ‘Rubrum’) provide a long season of color and don’t need substantial amounts of water.

16. Chrysanthemum

Dress up your late summer and fall scenery with the dependable performance of small-flowered garden mums! You can choose blooms in a rainbow of hues. This plant (perennial) is reliable, low-maintenance, and a substantial contribution to the autumn colors.

17. Rhapsody Blue Hydrangea

Despite the name of this shrub, it is possible that you can get pink blooms as well as blue blooms. It all depends on your soil’s pH. This plant is cold-tolerant to some extent (only in zones 5 to 9) and can grow up to 3 feet tall.

18. Superstar Spirea

Showy pink flowers appear on First Editions superstar Spirea (Spiraea x bumalda ‘Denistar’) from late spring to late summer. Flowers beckon bees and butterflies, while the plant itself is deer resistant. New leaves emerge scarlet and shift to green in summer. They eventually deepen to bronze in fall. Superstar grows 2-3 feet high and 3-4 feet wide. The shrubs do their best in zones 3 to 8.

19. Bobo Hydrangea

Grow this 3-foot-tall hydrangea in full to part sun in zones 3 to 9. This dwarf shrub bears abundant white blooms that stay white in any soil. Like all hydrangeas, this plant needs very little maintenance to encourage its abundant flowers.

20. Coneflower

Purple coneflower boasts striking blooms with reflexed purple petals that surround a spiky orange-gold cone. This drought-tolerant perennial does best in 4 to 8 and native to the Central Midwest.

You can also lift and transplant young seedlings that form around the base of the mother plant.

10 Indoor Plants that Grow in Water

January 21, 2019 by Helen Allen Leave a Comment

Indoor plants that grow in water are an attractive option if you want to have plants in your apartment or home and do not want to bother with soil.

Buying plants that grow in water are in many respects for beginners to gardening to get used to raising and tending after plants. You can learn many of the basics of gardening without having to put in as much effort if you learned by planting and growing plants in outside gardens.

You can grow an indoor garden in just about any watertight container providing it is not lined with copper, lead or brass. You should avoid metals, which can rust in water or react to any of the chemicals in plant feeds or fertilizers as there is a high risk that the plants will get poisoned.

Pick a container that will be big to house all the plants you want into it. Put things such as pebbles and gravel in the base of your pot so that it is three-quarters full. Add a pinch of charcoal to keep the water filtered clean and to avoid had odors. Then add water mixed with feed or fertilizers, with the fertilizers forming a quarter of the mix.

Here are ten indoor plants that grow in water

1. Spider Plant

The Spider Plant has bright leaves that liven up homes. Even better is that they are easy to grow, and according to NASA among the best air purifying plants you can have in your home.

2. Jade and Pearl Pathos

The Jade and Pearl Pathos are types of Begonia, and rare among water fed grown plants as they flower. If you find a place out of direct sunlight, they can bloom nine months every year.

3. The best Pothos indoor plants

Whatever you call a Pothos plant it is one of the best indoor water-grown plants for homes as well as offices. It is suitable for freshening up the air as it absorbs carbon monoxide and replaces it with oxygen. It is easy to care for and easy to prune its leaves.

4. Sweet potato vine

Be warned if you opt for a sweet potato vine, as they grow big and fast. It is easy to raise these from nodes, usually taking a couple of weeks to take root. These plants need a lot of water, so it is best to keep them in their containers, or even in larger jars.

5. The Coleus

An indoor and an outdoor plant. It is easy to grow from clippings, just put a cutting 4 or 5 inches and leave it in a small glass full of water. On average the roots will appear after a few days.

6. Wandering Jew and the Purple Heart

These plants originate from Central America, and their foliage is bright purple. They can make any room look stunning. To make the colors even brighter place the container where it can either catch the morning or the evening sun.

7. The Wandering Jew Plant

The great thing about picking the Wandering Jew Plant is that it’s cuttings root very quickly. Indeed they are the best type of plants with rapid rooting. The easiest way to get cuttings from the Mother plant is too water it well for two or three days beforehand. You will need to cut roughly three inches off the Mother plant and leave at least a couple of leaves on the top. Put the cuttings in a large jar and set aside for around four days by, which time it will have rooted.

8. Chinese Evergreen

A plant that is easy to grow from cuttings. All you need to do is to cut three inches or so from the Mother Plant with just two leaves left on the top of it. Leave the cuttings in jars full of water and exposed to sunlight, after a week they should have rooted for you.

9. The Maidenhair Fern

This type of fern is also one of the best kinds of indoor plants to grow in water. They need a little extra bit of care, and if you create a little extra bit of humidity, then the effort is indeed worth it. If you put pebbles in the water on a saucer placing near the container and in warm sunlight, then it will create the humidity the plant will thrive.

10. Bromeliad

These perennials used to have the inaccurate reputation of being high maintenance houseplants that experienced gardeners could have any chance of growing correctly. It is a low maintenance plant that anyone can grow in water without a problem. Once they have developed, they need watering weekly in the summer and less often in the winter. You will need to change the water regularly to prevent stagnation.

The Clematis Flower Planting Guide

January 18, 2019 by David Rheem Leave a Comment

As a gardener, you certainly wish to grow and keep your plants and flowers in a healthy ideal state. Clematis is a definite beauty from the buttercup family and amazingly, planting and maintaining it is quite simple. The basic requirements for it to thrive are ensuring their roots are cool, finding the ideal location, proper fertilizer choice and application and weeding.

First and foremost, clematis growing depends on planting process and refinement of the soil. You must ensure your soil is well prepared and has enough nourishment. Otherwise, your clematis will fail, regardless of the quality of the plant. Apart from proper nourishment, the soil should also have good drainage to avoid too much water retention.

The basic idea is to improve your soil, whether it is acidic or alkaline, clayey or silty. Fortunately, clematis does well in any pH.

Below is what I would recommend if you plan to plant clematis.

By a fence or wall

Make sure you dig the hole about 30 cm from the base of the structure to avoid cramping of roots and inadequacy of water.

By a tree

Dig the hole about 2 ft from the tree base, with the stalk leaning towards the tree.

How To Grow Clematis into a shrub

Plant the clematis outside the range of the shrub branches so that it will receive enough sunlight and water and to avoid congestion of roots.

Planting Procedure

1. Water or soak the clematis before you dig the hole to make it easier to handle. The size of the hole you dig should be deeper than the size of the pot to ensure proper space for root spread.

2. Cultivate the soil at the base of the hole and place properly decomposed manure or commercial compost. For the latter, John Innes number 3 is my favorite choice since it has good loam quality and is well nourished.

The manure should be maturely rotten; that is, it should not be steamy. After applying the portion at the base, fork it in well and cover about 2 inches of soil.

3. Apply a handful of Bone meal and mix with the soil. It is an excellent organic fertilizer and a source of protein and phosphorous.

4. Extract your plant from the water (if you had soaked) and cut the ties 6 inches from the base of the plant.

5. Detach the pot from the plant. In case there are any balled up roots, gently straighten them to enhance the rooting.

6. Put the Clematis plant in the hole carefully. Ensure the root ball is at least 8 cm deeper than it was in the pot. Cover the rest of the hole and press down the soil using your hands.

7. Place Plant Food around the plant. I like to work with Westland Gro-sure Slow Release Plant Food. The plant food will slowly release food to keep your Clematis growing at a stable rate.

8. The last step is watering. Supply a generous amount of water to on the soil around the plant. Adequate water is essential for the survival of your clematis.

Growing Clematis in Containers

If you do not have a garden, or you wish to plant clematis as house decoration, the solution is planting in containers. Fortunately, clematis does well in containers and maintenance is easy.

Procedure

1. Select a large container about 45 cm deep and good drainage openings. Ceramic clay is better than plastic. Place gravel at the base of the container to promote good drainage. Also, ensure that the container is located such that the holes are open at all times.

2. Plant the clematis with the roots at least 3 inches deeper than it was in the plastic. Ensure the root ball is at the center of the container.

3. Water regularly but do not overdo it to minimize retention. Always make sure the drainage holes are open.

4. After every one year, take away the top 2 inches of compost and replace it with new compost mixed with bone meal.

Optionally, you may add Osmocote tablets after a month to supply food and protect the roots from burning. You may use liquid tomato feed from the 3rd to the 7th month.

5. Pruning of the roots is required every 4 or 5 years.

6. If there is some space left on the container, you can plant a ground cover.

How do you plant Clematis on a Wall?

Since clematis is climbers, they need support. A trellis or meshed fence would be perfect. You may even plant a shrub to protect the roots of the clematis from drying up.

Best Time to Plant Clematis

Clematis is a flexible plant with little sensitivity. You can plant as long as the environment is favorable. During summer and spring, root development is advanced, and there is an increase in storage of food for the plant.

It will provide nourishment for flowering in the Spring. Root growth is usually conspicuous when the plant I about 2 feet tall. If the weather is moderate, it is a good idea to plant in the fall.

Pruning will be necessary for the next spring. During summer, it is imperative to keep watering the clematis on a regular basis, to prevent wilting.

Pruning Tips

1. Pruning is an essential part of the growth of Clematis. It protects the plant from pests, damage and the spread of infection.

2. The first pruning should be done on the first spring on the year of planting. All dead and loose branches should be cut off. This helps to control the size and growth.

3. Remove old stems to promote flowering in spring. Old stems can also be regenerate old stems by really cutting back, about 18 inches. You can perform the surgery after the primary flush.

Group 1

They require little and sometimes no pruning. Pruning is only necessary to control size after flowering.

Group 2

They grow on old and new wood. Pruning should be done twice; at the onset of spring and after flowering.

Handling Clematis in the Seasons

1. Spring – At the beginning of spring, apply fertilizer (5-10-10). Any transplanting should be done early spring. Pruning is not necessary for Group 1 and should be light for Group 2.

During Mid spring, you may plant some annuals at the surface, continue applying fertilizer and tie vines to enhance support.

Late spring is a time to keep an eye on the water content of the plant. Mulch may be applied but should not touch the clematis. Light pruning should be done to Group 1.

2. Summer – Fungal infections may start to settle in. Watch out for and remove infected parts. You may use a bleach solution to sanitize the plant. Prune Group 2 about 1.5 inches back after the first flush. Water adequately.

3.Winter – Ensure the vines are well tied for support during the harsh winter conditions. Mulch can also be used but should not touch the plant leaves. Ensure water is well provided.

That’s all you need to know on how to plant a clematis flower! Feel free to share and comment below if you have additional tips.

15 Cheap Landscaping Ideas for your Backyard and Garden

January 16, 2019 by David Rheem 1 Comment

Do you intend to re-design your front yard at low cost? I have compiled several ideas to consider trying out. These can impact your patio to whole outdoors. You may handle them with little inventiveness and ingenuity.

You do not have to spend too much to create a beautiful backyard. You only need a little effort and some bit of creativity to bring about some professional-level outdoor space.

Some of the ideas you might wish to try out are retaining walls for flower beds, bubbling water features, and pretty garden paths.

1. Select an Easy-maintenance Ground Cover

This idea is born and nurtured in America. However, it does cost some premium and is therefore not so cost-effective. This idea is geared towards minimizing the landscaping maintenance fees.

2. Flower Bed Border

Simply add a stone edge to a flower bed and after that mulch the bed.

3. Do-it-yourself Water Feature

This installation adds great wonder to your landscape on the whole. The iron teapot and the whiskey barrel are some two great designs for your consideration especially if you want to construct a waterfall.

4. Combine Soil with Homemade Compost

To guarantee the health of your flowers and plants, consider mixing soil with organic compost. To do so, mix a bag of potting soil with some leftover organic scraps. This results in a mixture that is rich in nutrients and great for your plants.

If you lack the time to create this particular mixture, consider mixing coffee grounds with mud-like dirt and clay. Add some mulch also as it is quite nutritious to your plants and comparatively less expensive than the potting soil.

5. Create a Path for High Traffic Areas

You might use salvage wood beams to create some paths in those areas of your compound that experience heavy traffic.

6. Homemade Stepping Stones

Stepping stones are undoubtedly great additions to any landscape designs. They create easy-to-walk pathways which interconnect the various components of your lawn. They are however quite costly. A typical stepping stone goes for $20 to $50 each.

7. Vegetable Gardens with some Decomposed Granite

This garden design looks impressive besides guaranteeing a steady supply of fresh vegetables and gardens in the long run. This arrangement subsequently saves you a great deal of time and effort you would otherwise waste going to a supermarket.

8. Prefer the Perennials

Flowers that blossom annually are very breathtaking to behold. Those that die every year are quite expensive though. Choose instead those that outlast a year. These include coreopsis, catmint, and alstroemeria. The said plants also produce colorful flowers and leaves.

9. Use the temporary spray paint to design your edging layout

Edging gives your garden beds extra professional looks. You should, therefore, outline your design first and foremost by use of some temporary marking sprays and paint.

10. Modify the Old Tires

Tires are generally bulky and difficult to dispose of. They are also unacceptable by many waste haulers. You should consider putting them to use in your backyard.

11. Adopt a Vertical Approach with your Gardening

It uses vertical spaces for the sake of growing plants. It is also an excellent place to start on if you have never attempted gardening before.

This approach makes the most of the limited space. It is also less expensive especially if you use recycled materials rather than those that are brand new or original.

12. Add some splash of color

It is sometimes necessary to add some color to your backyard to make it appear pomp and great. It only entails painting the planters to create some contemporary looks. It can also take the forms of giving the wood, plastic chairs, metal some fresh coat of paints.

To save even more money on this, you should also consider reusing leftover paints from past projects rather than purchasing newer paints.

What’s more? You may also add some quick splash of colors such as the flowers or foliage, placing them strategically on the deck, the patio, at an entrance or just tucked away into a planting bed.

13. Plant some Tree

Planting trees are by far the easiest and the cheapest project for the backyard imaginable. You need some few digging tools, the tree to be planted and some mulch. Also, possessing some well-planned trees in your backyard may end up saving you a great deal of money in the long run.

14. Make use of Affordable Lighting

The cheap and affordable street lights are generally preferred for budget landscaping ideas for the backyard. This is because they are soft and produce some ambient glows which have the attendant impact of converting any patio into some chill summer hangouts. The twinkle lights go for around $6 per strand. For a modern look though, you will require a strand of clear globe light which goes for around $9.

15. Purchase or Construct some Low-cost Seating

After you are through with the budget-friendly backyard landscaping, you want to place a seat to let you relax and enjoy your labor. You do not have to buy an expensive one from a furniture store though. Instead, you have to go online and obtain some used pieces. It is these that you will use to make your improvised seats right at the comfort of your room.